Even death is cause to smile in new abuse photos

By MARK SAGE

NEW YORK - A female American soldier is seen grinning and giving a thumbs-up over the corpse of an Iraqi detainee in the latest shocking photographs to emerge from the prisoner abuse scandal.

Specialist Sabrina Harman was pictured with the body of an Iraqi, who other soldiers have told investigators died during interrogation at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

The photograph was obtained by ABC News, which identified the dead Iraqi as Manadel al-Jamadi.

Harman, 26, is leaning over the corpse which is packed in ice. The man's mouth is slightly opened and a small patch of blood can be seen on his right temple. His eyes are sealed closed with tape.

In a second picture obtained by the news network another soldier, Specialist Charles Graner, is also seen smiling with a raised thumb as he leans over the corpse.

According to evidence from Specialist Jason Kenner, obtained by ABC News, the man was brought to the prison by United States Navy Seals in good health.

Kenner said he saw extensive bruising on the man's body when he was brought out of the showers dead.

He reportedly told investigators there was then a "battle" between CIA and military interrogators over who should dispose of the body.

The US Department of Justice has begun an investigation into that death and four others, following a referral from the CIA.

Six soldiers, including Harman and Graner, are still facing charges over the scandal.

A seventh, Specialist Jeremy Sivits was yesterday given the maximum available sentence - a year in military detention and a bad conduct discharge - after pleading guilty to the abuse of detainees.

The world was previously shocked by photographs showing another female soldier, Private Lynndie England, 21, abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

In one photo she is shown pointing at naked Iraqis and giving a thumbs-up sign, while in another she is holding a naked prisoner by a leash around his neck.

Another disc with 24 photographs depicting "apparent abusive acts by US forces" has surfaced in the investigation of mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at a US-run prison near Baghdad, the Pentagon said yesterday.

Thirteen of the photographs appeared to be images already seen in the international media, but 11 have not been identified in previous investigations, according to a Pentagon letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee. All the soldiers still facing charges have claimed that they were following orders when they abused prisoners.

They have claimed that they were following instructions to "soften up" detainees ahead of interrogation sessions.

Harman wanted to be a police officer, her mother Robin said recently.

Harman said her daughter worked at a pizzeria in Alexandria, Virginia, before joining the Army.

"She has this attitude that she is going to save the world," Robin Harman said.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq